Spring type disc projecting device with cam operated cocking mechanism

ABSTRACT

A target projecting device having a cam mechanism operated target transfer mechanism. The target transfer mechanism transfers the target from a magazine to a throwing arm. The cam mechanism is connected to the throwing arm so that movement of the cam will cause movement of the throwing arm. The magazine has a resilient bar that biases the targets against the side of the magazine and only when the bar is acted upon by a target transfer plate will a target be transfered to a target feed plate.

[4 1 July 18, 1972 United States Patent Segerkvist 2,670,727 3/1954 Hessenbruch 2,925,812 2/1960 F0ster..........

3,225,754 12/1965 Foster [54] SPRING TYPE DISC PROJECTING DEVICE WITH CAM OPERATED COCKING MECHANISM [72] Inventor:

Bror Henrik Segerkvist, Ymsenvagen 9, 121 42, Johanneshov, Sweden Nov. 12, 1970 21 Appl.No.: 88,965

Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-William R. Browne Attorney-Flynn and Fn'shauf [22] Filed:

[57] ABSTRACT A target projecting device having a cam mechanism 0 target transfer mechanism. The ta e wh n? m Tt mgmt flm oo d oamm m .mm m m we 8 c b zm m em .mw f mU mm O n a eb f ht. a w? mm a e transfers the target from a magazin cam mechanism is connected to the throwin movement of the cam will cause movement arm. The magazine has a resilient bar that biases the tar against the side of the magazine and on] upon by a target transfer plate will a t target feed plate.

74 3 40 4 //4 M 12 ZHb ,4 1 l a 446 3 F 3 M W M M 2 1 N 4 2 NW A m m m .n m m C n m m. N m mm .m n u e u m R uh m mm L ."f 10 M wm k U .mF l. .11 l 2 8 6 5 55 5 .l [l rt UNITED STATES PATENTS 124/7 7 Claim, 2 Drawing Figures Patented July 18, 1972 3,677,257

2 Sheets-Sheet l Patented July 18, 1972 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 SPRING TYPE DISC PROJECTING DEVICE WITH CAM OPERATED COCKING MECHANISM This invention relates to a target throwing machine, or trap, of the type which is automatically loaded with targets or clay pigeons. Particularly the trap comprises at least one magazine for a stack of targets, a target feed plate arranged under the magazine for reciprocating movement in a substantially vertical direction to take out successive targets from the magazine, a rotatable throwing arm adapted to pass under the magazine in order to pick up a target from the feed plate, a spring connected to the throwing arm to drive said arm during the throwing phase, and power operated means for controlling the feed plate movement and for rotating the throwing arm during the loading phase, while simultaneously tensioning the spring.

The main reason for using a target feed plate is to reduce the risk of target breakage during the loading phase. However, in prior art traps the required syncronization between the individual movements of the different parts of the trap has resulted in a very complicated mechanical structure.

An object of this invention is to provide a simplified target throwing trap which can be manufactured at reasonable costs and which also will satisfy different functional requirements.

A target throwing trap according to the invention is primarily characterized in that the movement of the feed plate is positively controlled by cam means on the envelope surface of a rotatable cylindrical member driven by a motor, said member having a carrier pin cooperating with the throwing arm to rotate said arm during the loading phase, the throwing arm being mounted so as to rotate freely relatively to the cylindrical member during the throwing phase.

Besides the advantage of a simplified mechanical structure the invention also offers the additional advantages of high reliability and throwing accuracy.

The invention will now be described in greater detail reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a trap according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the trap shown in FIG. 1.

Reference numeral 1 designates a magazine for a stack of targets 2. The magazine comprises three mainly vertical guide rods 3. These rods are made flexible, at least at their lower ends, to permit the magazine to be adjusted to differently sized targets by means of screws 4. The rods 3 are secured to the main frame 6 by means of an arm 7 and a bracket ring 5. The magazine can also be provided with a resilient bar 8 parallel to rods 3 and adapted to make intimate contact with the targets along the whole length of the magazine to press the targets against at least two of the rods 3. Bar 8 is supported in two mountings 9 provided on one of the rods 3, said mountings being designed so as to cause parallel movement of bar 8 in an outward and upward direction upon application of an upwardly directed force on the lower end of the bar. The mountings 9 are provided with locking means for retaining the bar 8 in its outer inoperative position during refilling the magazine with targets.

The target feed plate 15 is over a rod 16 connected with a yoke 17 which is provided with two rollers 18 and 19. Roller 18 is guided in a vertical channel 20 and roller 19 is received in a guide 21 formed by two cam curves on the envelope surface of a cylindrical member 22. Member 22 is arranged to be rotated by a motor 25 over a chain 23 and two toothed wheels 13 and 14. On the upper surface of member 22 there is provided a carrier pin 24 cooperating with the lower horizontal portion of a crank 31. The lower crankshaft neck 26 is mounted coaxial and freely rotatable in the cylindrical member 22. The upper crankshaft neck 27 carries a throwing arm 28 rigidly secured thereto, said arm comprising a platform 29 having a rail 30 extending along one of its edges. The middle portion of the crank 31 is connected to one end of a spring 32 having its other end connected to the main frame 6 through an adjustment screw 33. As will be clear from FIG. 1, the lower ends of rods 3 have bevelled inner edges and plate 15 has a corresponding bevelled upper edge. From FIG. 2 it can In order to load the trap with a target 2 motor 25 is started.

The rotation of the cylindrical member 22 will cause the yoke 17 to move in a vertical direction due to the engagement between roller 19 and cam guide 21. A stud projecting from the plate 15 will then contact the lower end of bar 8 and cause this bar to move in an upward and outward direction. When the plate 15 has reached the lower ends of rods 3 the bevelled edges of the plate and the rods will cooperate to move the rods slightly outwards whereupon the lowest target is released from the magazine and transferred to plate 15. This will occur when roller 19 has reached the top of the cam guide 21. Then plate 15 is lowered and rods 3 revert to their initial positions. During this first rotation of member 22 crank 31 has remained in its initial position as its lower shaft neck 26 is rotatably journalled in member 22. At the beginning of the second part of the first revolution of member 22 the carrier pin 24 has reached the lower horizontal portion of the crank 31 and will now be in engagement therewith during the following rotation phase.

Throughout this rotation spring 32 is stretched and throwing arm 28 is swung about 180. The movements of throwing arm 28 and plate 15 are synchronized by means of carrier pin 24 and the cam guide 21 so that when the throwing arm passes under the magazine plate 15 has been lowered to the level of the arm. Platform 29 will then move into a position where an.

edge portion thereof extends under the part of target 2 ex-' posed at the cut away segment of plate 15. Said position of throwing arm 28 has been shown in dashed lines in FIG. 2. As aresult of the continued downward movement of plate 15 and the rotation of throwing arm 28 target 2 will be completely transferred to platform 29 by means of a stud 12 on plate 15. Then a rod- 11 carried by arm 7 serves at this angular position of the throwing arm, to press the target against rail 30. As will be clear from FIG. 1, the cam guide 21 is comparatively flat at aposition corresponding to the transfer of target 2 to platform 29. This means that plate 15 is lowered very slowly at this transfer. After a certain further rotation the throwing arm will reach a position very close to that in which spring 32 has its maximum tension and rod 11 has left its contact with the target.

Preferably the trap can be providedwith a switch which in this position stops motor 25 whereupon throwing of the target can take place at any desired time simply through reenergizing the motor. Now, when the motor 25 has been started again spring 32 will be released and rapidly rotate the throwing arm 28 about The centrifugal force will move the target along the rail 30 towards the end of the throwing arm where the target will leave said arm and move along a certain flight path. Hereupon the trap is ready for a new loading and throwing cycle.

In order to remove any broken target pieces from plate 15 the throwing arm is at its rear lower edge provided with a brush (not shown) which sweeps over plate 15 once a revolution.

What is claimed is:

1. A target throwing machine comprising at least one magazine for a stack of targets, a target feed plate arranged under the magazine for reciprocating movement in a substantially vertical direction to take out successive targets from the magazine, a rotatable throwing arm adapted to pass under the magazine in order to pick up a target from the feed plate, a spring connected to the throwing arm to drive said arm during a target throwing phase, a driven rotatable cylindrical member coupled to the throwing arm, and means for controlling the feed plate movement and for rotating the throwing arm during a target loading phase, while simultaneously tensioning said spring, said means for controlling the feed plate movement including means for camrning the feed plate upwardly to receive a target from the magazine, said means for camming the feed plate being positioned on the envelope surface of said driven rotatable cylindrical member, said cylindrical member having a pin positioned on one end thereof, said pin engaging the throwing arm to rotate said arm during the target loading phase, the throwing arm being mounted to rotate freely and substantially unrestrained relative to the cylindrical member during the target throwing phase.

2. A machine according to claim 1 wherein said means for camming the feed plate includes means defining a cam curve which, has a relatively low rise at the portion of the cam curve for controlling the movement of the feed plate at the time of transfer of a target from said plate to the throwing arm.

3. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the feed plate is lowered to level below the throwing arm at the transfer of a target to the throwing arm.

4. A machine according to claim 1 including, a guide rail along one edge of the throwing arm, and means for pressing the target against said guide rail during the target loading phase.

5. A machine according to claim 4 wherein said means for pressing includes a rod extending substantially parallel to the plane of the throwing arm, a slot being provided between the guide rail and the throwing arm at the outer portion of said arm to permit the end of the rod to pass therethrough during the throwing phase.

6. A machine according to claim 1 wherein the throwing arm is rigidly mounted on one shaft neck of a crank coupled to the spring, the other crank shaft neck being freely rotatable in the cylindrical member.

7. Machine according to claim 1 comprising a motor coupled to said cylindrical member to drive said cylindrical member. 

1. A target throwing machine comprising at least one magazine for a stack of targets, a target feed plate arranged under the magazine for reciprocating movement in a substantially vertical direction to take out successive targets from the magazine, a rotatable throwing arm adapted to pass under the magazine in order to pick up a target from the feed plate, a spring connected to the throwing arm to drive said arm during a target throwing phase, a driven rotatable cylindrical member coupled to the throwing arm, and means for controlling the feed plate movement and for rotating the throwing arm during a target loading phase, while simultaneously tensioning said spring, said means for controlling the feed plate movement including means for camming the feed plate upwardly to receive a target from the magazine, said means for camming the feed plate being positioned on the envelope surface of said driven rotatable cylindrical member, said cylindrical member having a pin positioned on one end thereof, said pin engaging the throwing arm to rotate said arm during the target loading phase, the throwing arm being mounted to rotate freely and substantially unrestrained relative to the cylindrical member during the target throwing phase.
 2. A machine according to claim 1 wherein said means for camming the feed plate includes means defining a cam curve which has a relatively low rise at the portion of the cam curve for controlling the movement of the feed plate at the time of transfer of a target from said plate to the throwing arm.
 3. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the feed plate is lowered to level below the throwing arm at the transfer of a target to the throwing arm.
 4. A machine according to claim 1 including, a guide rail along one edge of the throwing arm, and means for pressing the target against said guide rail during the target loading phase.
 5. A machine according to claim 4 wherein said means for pressing includes a rod extending substantially parallel to the plane of the throwing arm, a slot being provided between the guide rail and the throwing arm at the outer portion of said arm to permit the end of the rod to pass therethrough during the throwing phase.
 6. A machine according to claim 1 wherein the throwing arm is rigidly mounted on one shaft neck of a crank coupled to the spring, the other crank shaft neck being freely rotatable in the cylindrical member.
 7. Machine according to claim 1 comprising a motor coupled to said cylindrical member to drive said cylindrical member. 